Valenca to Tui

I crossed into Spain today, yay! I felt my Dad strongly while I traversed the Minho river. Tui is a border town and on high hills above the river. They got themselves some steep hills! The Cathedral, highest building, is crazy ornate, blending a number of architectural styles and having add-ons over the years. The stones of the hill upon which it was built were not cut away for car-sized roads. So round about and back again, the streets are as crazy and pedestrian-only as the streets in Portuguese cities.

But you know the best part? Sidewalks are NOT freaking cobblestones.

PGW, my itinerary company, had arranged for a taxi to pick me up in O Porrino, another 16 k up the road, and take me back to the available hotel in Valenca. Nope, happy with my day in Tui. Went to churches, mailed some postcards, and had a nice lunch. I called the Taxi company and they were ok with picking me up in Tui and carting me back across the bridge.

I met a couple of ladies from Nova Scotia who were trying to figure out Uber. They were also being kind to their knees and getting a car from Valenca to O Porrino. I wonder if I’ll see them tomorrow when my taxi picks me up here in Valenca and delivers me to O Porrino. The one lady had lived in Virginia Beach in the 60’s when she was little. We supported each other in choosing Uber to ease the Camino. Does that make it the uber-way?

Inner journey: tuning into my body to try to understand what it needs to have less pain. I let the ideas pop up and I take action. Lots of stretching this morning while I waited and waited for my phone to charge. KT tape around and over the knee. The one pair I brought of compression running sox. Walking with poles and the barest minimum on my back. And I stopped at the farmacia and got paracetamol.

It was a good day.Read more